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Once LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018, everyone was itching to see a playoff matchup against the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers Christmas Day win over the Dubs was their high-point of the 2018-19 season. James hurt his groin that night and the team went on an extended skid, missing the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were leading the Dubs back to the NBA Finals, where Thompson injured his ACL in Game 6 against the Toronto Raptors.
Both squads underwent major changes last offseason. The Lakers traded for superstar Anthony Davis, while Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets, ending his stellar three-year run in the Bay Area.
Without Thompson and Durant, the chances severely decreased that we would see a dream Western Conference final between the geographical rivals.
As NBC Sports’ Monte Poole points out, the Warriors haven’t played the Lakers in the playoffs since 1991. When the Lakers went on their championship run in the early 2000s, the Dubs were a bottom-feeder. While Kobe Bryant was leading L.A. to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, the Warriors were in the early stages of building into the juggernaut they became.
The 2020-21 season will be the first time in decades both franchises will be title contenders simultaneously.
Mychal Thompson, who is Klay’s father, shared his sentiments with NBC Bay Area:
“When you talk about the Splash Brothers, the attraction of the Golden State Warriors and their recent history, going against LeBron (James) and the Lakers, that is a Western Conference Finals dream matchup.”
I am with Mychal on this. Seeing the Warriors play the Lakers in the playoffs would be awesome, but it is hardly guaranteed.
The L.A. Clippers and Denver Nuggets will be near the top of the Western Conference for the next few seasons, while a team like the Dallas Mavericks are on the cusp of developing into a contender.
Still, the storylines would be endless. Golden State denied LeBron three titles over the previous five seasons and there seems to be a healthy dose of competition between James and Curry.
If these two teams meet, it would be huge for not only California, but the entire NBA world.
How do you think a fully healthy Warriors squad does against the Lakers?
Onto some more links:
Could Klay Thompson play some games if the NBA regular season resumes? It would be great to see him back on the court, but it’s not happening. NBC Bay Area’s Kerith Burke answers questions about Klay and other Dubs inquiries.
Former “We Believe” Dubs member Baron Davis was in awe of Michael Jordan, just like most basketball fans from around the world. B-Diddy joined KNBR to share a funny story about a time he asked MJ for an autograph at an All-Star game. (NBC Bay Area)
From around the NBA:
How good will the Warriors be through 2025? The team has the ability to be very good in the short-term, while adding pieces for the future. Sports Illustrated goes over its five-year power rankings.
With the NBA on hiatus, basketball fans have been discussing ESPN’s documentary, “The Last Dance,” following the Chicago Bulls during the 1997-98 season. The show’s creator promises the coming episodes will be “eye-opening.” (CBS Sports)